UGM's Guru Besar Warns Against Over-Reliance on Sense of Smell for Food Safety
A prominent lecturer at the Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Sri Raharjo, has expressed concerns about relying solely on the sense of smell through the nose to identify potentially hazardous food. According to him, the human sense of smell is only a first line of defense against potential food safety threats.
The aroma, taste, and texture of food are typically normal visually, but there may be hidden dangers from contaminated ingredients or bacteria that can cause illnesses. "Some bacteria can destroy food without causing symptoms, while others can lead to illness," said Sri Raharjo, the head of the Centre for Food and Nutrition Studies at UGM.
This highlights the need for a more thorough approach to monitoring food safety in school meal programs like Makan Bergizi Gratis (MBG), which provides free meals to students. The lecturer emphasizes that not all cases of food poisoning show immediate symptoms and may manifest in different ways.
To prevent foodborne illnesses, Sri Raharjo stresses the importance of proper food handling, processing, and storage procedures. This includes ensuring that ingredients are handled hygienically, cooked thoroughly, and stored safely. It is also essential to monitor each item on the menu carefully to determine its contribution to potential contamination.
The lecturer notes that one particular component of MBG meals - lauk pauk (usually a protein source) - has a higher risk of causing food poisoning due to the need for cooking time and heat to kill bacteria. The availability of resources, including equipment, personnel, and storage facilities, can limit the effectiveness of these measures.
Therefore, Sri Raharjo advocates for revising the capacity of each Satuan Pelayanan Pemenuhan Gizi (SPPG) to meet the expected demand for food packages. With only three thousand packs per SPPG exceeding their capacity, control over food may not be fully enforced according to set standards.
By addressing these concerns and taking a more holistic approach to monitoring food safety, Sri Raharjo hopes to prevent further cases of foodborne illnesses in students receiving meals under the MBG program.
A prominent lecturer at the Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Sri Raharjo, has expressed concerns about relying solely on the sense of smell through the nose to identify potentially hazardous food. According to him, the human sense of smell is only a first line of defense against potential food safety threats.
The aroma, taste, and texture of food are typically normal visually, but there may be hidden dangers from contaminated ingredients or bacteria that can cause illnesses. "Some bacteria can destroy food without causing symptoms, while others can lead to illness," said Sri Raharjo, the head of the Centre for Food and Nutrition Studies at UGM.
This highlights the need for a more thorough approach to monitoring food safety in school meal programs like Makan Bergizi Gratis (MBG), which provides free meals to students. The lecturer emphasizes that not all cases of food poisoning show immediate symptoms and may manifest in different ways.
To prevent foodborne illnesses, Sri Raharjo stresses the importance of proper food handling, processing, and storage procedures. This includes ensuring that ingredients are handled hygienically, cooked thoroughly, and stored safely. It is also essential to monitor each item on the menu carefully to determine its contribution to potential contamination.
The lecturer notes that one particular component of MBG meals - lauk pauk (usually a protein source) - has a higher risk of causing food poisoning due to the need for cooking time and heat to kill bacteria. The availability of resources, including equipment, personnel, and storage facilities, can limit the effectiveness of these measures.
Therefore, Sri Raharjo advocates for revising the capacity of each Satuan Pelayanan Pemenuhan Gizi (SPPG) to meet the expected demand for food packages. With only three thousand packs per SPPG exceeding their capacity, control over food may not be fully enforced according to set standards.
By addressing these concerns and taking a more holistic approach to monitoring food safety, Sri Raharjo hopes to prevent further cases of foodborne illnesses in students receiving meals under the MBG program.